ES2492533T3 - Raft cover such as a pool or similar - Google Patents

Abstract

Deck (1) for raft such as a pool or the like, comprising tension means that allow said deck (1) to be tensioned in an unfolded position above said raft and stowage means that allow said deck (1) to be stowed in the surrounding area of said raft, said deck comprising a peripheral frame (3) made of flexible material carrying said tension means and said stowage means and delimiting a central opening (30), and a tarp (2) made of flexible material and assembled to said peripheral frame (3) in a reversible manner, characterized in that said cover comprises a fixed panel (4) arranged to close said central opening (30) and assembled to said peripheral frame (3) irreversibly, and because said canvas (2) comprises at least one removable panel (20) arranged to cover said fixed panel (4) and assembled to said peripheral frame (3) by reversible assembly means so as to allow an inte Exchangeability of said removable panel (20) forming said canvas (2).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Raft cover such as a pool or similar.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a raft cover such as a pool or the like, which comprises tension means that allow said cover to be tensioned in an unfolded position above said raft and stowage means that allow said deck to be stowed in the surrounding area of said raft, said cover comprising a peripheral frame made of flexible material that carries said tension means and said stowage means and that delimits a central opening, and a canvas made of flexible material and assembled to said peripheral frame in a reversible manner.

Prior art

Numerous models of raft covers such as swimming pools or the like are known at the present time, the characteristics of which are adapted according to the use that is desired of them and / or depending on the type of raft in question.

Thus, certain cover models are manufactured from materials that protect the raft and conserve heat and accumulated calories, while preventing water evaporation.

Other models of cover, of the type network of pool, mainly serve to prevent the fall of a person or an animal, as well as the introduction of impurities in the water of the raft, such as leaves.

On the other hand, opaque hibernation tarpaulins are also known, the use of which allows photosynthesis of algae to be prevented and, therefore, to limit their development, even in the absence of chemical treatment.

However, these different solutions do not provide complete satisfaction.

Indeed, the absence of plurifunctionality of the covers for classic rafts means for a user to have several covers of different natures adapted to different situations and destined to be replaced by one another according to the needs. This is considered particularly burdensome and also implies having enough space to store the covers during their periods of uselessness.

On the other hand, depending on the size of the raft and the material from which a raft cover is manufactured, the latter generally has a consistent weight, thereby not allowing easy handling and transport by anyone, in particular by a single person. Thus, women and adolescents, although they represent a large part of the users, do not frequently have the physical strength necessary for such operations.

Another major drawback of most of the raft covers available on the market currently resides in the fact that, in the case of replacing a cover canvas, for example of winter type, with a summer cover canvas, or a tarp damaged by a new covering tarp, all the quincalla, represented by the different tension and stowage elements, must be disassembled and, if necessary, reassembled on the replacement tarp, which takes time and represents a Again, non-negligible supplementary costs.

Publication US 2003/177570 proposes a cover for an off-ground or partially buried pool, which is presented in the form of an inflatable structure. It comprises a net that extends on the surface of the water surrounded by a stowage frame permanently attached to the raft. The two parts are assembled at the level of their adjacent peripheral edges by a zip fastener to be able to remove the net in order to access the raft. The network can be separated partially or completely.

However, this solution is not compatible with a majority of buried pools for which the decks are completely dissociated from the raft so that the raft can be completely released. In addition, the solution described in this publication does not address the problem of the interchangeability of the type of cover depending on the seasons and uses.

Exhibition of the invention

The present invention aims to alleviate these drawbacks by proposing a modular and multifunction pool cover, that is to say, which allows an interchangeability between different types of cover sheets according to the uses and / or the seasons, said cover being easily manageable by a single person, of a reduced cost and of the kind that simplifies maintenance operations, allows the simple replacement of any spent parts only and suppresses the need for an important volume storage space, while ensuring a high level of security.

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With this aim, the invention relates to a raft cover, of the kind indicated in the preamble, characterized in that it comprises a fixed panel arranged to close said central opening and assembled to said peripheral frame in an irreversible manner, and because said canvas comprises at least one removable panel arranged to cover said fixed panel and assembled to said peripheral frame by reversible assembly means, so as to allow interchangeability of said removable panel forming said canvas.

Thus, the construction of the roof allows to separate the functions of a raft cover, that is, on the one hand, the quincalla or the barge embarked on a peripheral frame that becomes a standard and fixed element and, on the other hand, a canvas that becomes a removable and easily interchangeable technical element at a lower cost.

Said fixed panel can be chosen from the group comprising an armed network or not and an armed fabric or not and openwork or not, as well as a transparent or translucent flexible material armed or not.

Depending on the shape of the raft intended to be covered by said canvas, said peripheral frame advantageously has a substantially parallel parallelepiped perimeter, while said central opening delimited by the inner perimeter of said peripheral frame can also have a parallelepipedic shape.

or any form that substantially corresponds to that of said raft.

Always according to the shape of the raft intended to be covered by said canvas, at least one of the four corners of said peripheral frame can be cut obliquely so as to limit the area of influence of said cover.

The peripheral frame advantageously comprises two side bands of which at least one is designed to form a protective wrap for said canvas when it is rolled.

According to a feature of the invention, said canvas can comprise several removable panels made of flexible materials of different or non-different natures. These panels can be assembled together by reversible assembly means. Each of the removable panels can also be individually assembled to the peripheral frame by reversible assembly means. In this case, said removable panels overlap.

On the other hand, said flexible material that forms the panel or panels of said canvas is preferably chosen from the group comprising a transparent or translucent flexible material armed or not, an opaque or semi-opaque material armed or not, an openwork fabric or not and a net, while said flexible material forming said peripheral frame is preferably chosen from the group comprising a transparent or translucent flexible flexible material, an opaque or semi-opaque reinforced flexible material, an openwork or non-reinforced reinforced fabric and an armed network.

The cover according to the invention is also characterized in that said reversible assembly means joining the removable panel or panels of said canvas and said peripheral frame are chosen from between the self-engaging bands, the zip fasteners and the pressure buttons.

According to an additional feature, said tension means comprise at least two longitudinal tension belts each housed inside a slide formed at the longitudinal edges of said peripheral frame, each of the ends of said belts forming of longitudinal tension at least one loop around an end bar attached to a side edge of said peripheral frame and arranged to rest on a surrounding area of said raft, said loop being coupled to stowage means of said deck over the surrounding area of said raft.

According to another characteristic, said tension means further comprise at least one additional longitudinal tension belt and / or at least one transverse support bar that extend respectively between the two lateral edges and / or the two longitudinal edges of said peripheral frame , each of the ends of said additional longitudinal tension belt forming at least one loop around said end bar attached to a side edge of said peripheral frame, said loop being coupled to engagement means over a stowage area planted around of said raft, while each of the ends of the transverse support bar is attached to a longitudinal edge of the peripheral frame, said longitudinal edge comprising hooking means on a stowage area planted around said raft.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention and its advantages will best appear in the following description of an embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

-Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a raft cover according to the invention, in a parallelepipedic manner, in its deployed position, composed of a peripheral frame and a removable canvas,

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Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cover shown in Figure 1 with a translucent canvas, and

-Figure 3 is an enlarged view of detail D1 of Figure 1.

Illustrations of the invention and better way to carry it out

With reference to the figures, the invention relates to a deck 1 for raft such as a pool, said deck 1 presenting in the illustrated embodiment variant a rectangular shape and dimensions such that, in its position deployed above the raft, its lateral edges 1a, 1b and longitudinal 10a, 10b rest on the area surrounding said raft (not illustrated).

According to the invention, the cover 1 comprises a peripheral frame 3 of flexible material, the outer perimeter of which is preferably parallelepipedic to be able to carry the tension and stowage means. Its inner perimeter delimits a central opening 30 arranged to receive a canvas 2 made in the form of at least one removable panel 20 of dimensions smaller than those of said cover 1, but which closes the central opening 30 and attached to said peripheral frame 3 by reversible assembly means. This cover 1 further comprises a fixed panel 4, assembled to the peripheral frame 3 irreversibly, for example by sewing, thermo sewing or any other equivalent means. The fixed panel 4 is designed to fill the central opening 30 and to be arranged under the removable panel 20 that forms the canvas 2 when the latter is attached to the peripheral frame 3. A fixed panel 4 of this type allows to permanently guarantee the safety of the raft avoiding any accidental fall in the water, even when the canvas 2 is removed from the peripheral frame 3. According to the variants of embodiment of the cover 1, the fixed panel 4 can be constituted by an armed network or not, an armed fabric or not and openwork or not, a flexible material such as an extruded film, a calendered fabric, a nonwoven, transparent or translucent and reinforced or not, or the like.

The parallelepipedic shape of the peripheral frame 3 is advantageous for mechanical issues of tensioning of the roof 1. However, in order to reduce the area of influence of the latter on the surrounding area of the raft, one or more of the four corners of the peripheral frame 3 may be cut obliquely. On the other hand, the general shape of the central opening 30, which is delimited by the inner perimeter of the peripheral frame 3 and which determines the shape of the removable canvas 2, may vary from one cover 1 to another. It can be any and will preferably be adapted to the shape of the raft intended to be covered by said cover 1. This makes it possible to limit the dimensions of the canvas 2, which constitutes the onerous part of the cover 1, to values just necessary to cover the raft and contributes, therefore, to reduce the cost of said cover 1.

Said two-part structure of the cover 1 according to the invention advantageously allows to have a cover 1 for swimming pool whose quincalla, represented by the different tension and stowage elements, is carried by the peripheral frame 3 and is, therefore, independent of the canvas 2. Thus, the removable panel 20 forming the canvas 2 can be separated from the peripheral frame 3, for example to be replaced by a removable panel 20 made of a flexible material of a different nature or, in case of wear, to be replaced by a new removable panel 20, without it being necessary to disassemble followed by a reassembly of said hardware. This new way of proceeding allows the user to reduce costs significantly.

In the illustrated embodiment variant, the canvas 2 comprises a single removable panel made of a flexible material whose nature is chosen according to the needs and / or the seasons. In a classic way, a transparent or translucent flexible material, armed or not, that contributes to the reheating of the water contained in the greenhouse by the greenhouse is adapted to make a canvas 2 for summer use. On the contrary, an opaque or semi-opaque material, armed or not, is more suitable for hibernating canvas 2, limiting or even preventing the proliferation of algae in a water preserved from any light. Of course, other embodiments of the cover 1 can be provided in which the canvas 2 comprises several removable panels of flexible materials chosen from those mentioned above. Such panels may then be of different natures or not. They can join each other on the same plane or on superimposed planes. Each of them can also be individually attached to said peripheral frame 3. In this case, said panels overlap. Of course, the assembly means are reversible and allow the structure of said canvas 2 to be modulated according to the needs or wishes of the user and the stations.

In order that the peripheral frame 3 has sufficient rigidity and resistance to withstand the stresses of stowage and to support the canvas 2, the flexible material from which said frame is made is preferably assembled and is chosen from the group comprising a flexible transparent or translucent reinforced material, an opaque or semi-opaque flexible flexible material, an openwork or not armed fabric, an armed net or similar. The flexible material can be an extruded film, a calendered sheet, a nonwoven or the like.

According to the invention, said reversible assembly means joining the canvas 2 and the peripheral frame 3 or, where appropriate, the different removable panels forming the canvas 2 are preferably chosen from a ring 5 and hook 6 assembly means. , self-engaging bands, zipper closures, buttons

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of pressure or any other equivalent means.

On the other hand, according to an advantageous feature of the invention, the peripheral frame 3 comprises two side bands 3a, 3b of different width, whose longer side band 3a is arranged in such a way that it forms a protective wrap for the canvas 2 when the cover 1 is wound, in particular with a view to its storage.

With reference to the figures, the tension means with which the cover 1 according to the invention is equipped comprises at least two longitudinal tension straps 7 each housed inside a slide 8a, 8b formed in the longitudinal edges 10a, 10b of the peripheral frame 3. As illustrated in Figure 3, each of the ends of said longitudinal tension straps 7 forms at least one loop 11 around an end bar 9a, 9b attached to a side edge 1a , 1b of the peripheral frame 3 and arranged to rest on a surrounding area of the raft. Each of the loops 11 is coupled to a stowage means, such as, for example, a ring 12 intended to be stowed, for example, on a python (not illustrated) planted around said raft.

In order to obtain a perfect tension of the cover 1 in its deployed position above the raft, the tension means may be completed by one or more additional longitudinal tension straps 13 and / or one or several transverse support bars 14 which extend respectively, in the central opening 30 delimited by the peripheral frame 3, between the two lateral edges 1a, 1b and / or longitudinal 10a, 10b of said peripheral frame 3. As illustrated in the figures, each of the ends of said longitudinal tension belts 13 in this case form at least one loop 11 around an end bar 9a, 9b, said loop 11 being coupled to engagement means, such as a ring 12 intended to cooperate, for example, with a python (not shown), planted around the raft, as well as for tension belts 7. On the other hand, each end of the crossbar 14 is attached to a longitudinal edge 10a, 10b of the peripheral frame 3 comprising a plurality of rings 12 intended to be stowed, for example, on pythons (not shown) properly distributed around the raft.

Conventionally, one of the end bars 9a, 9b, in the illustrated example the end bar 9b attached to the band 3b of the peripheral frame 3, is movable and allows winding and unwinding of the cover 1, for example, respectively. , by means of a crank (not shown), motorized or not, and by means of a winding belt (not shown) integral to said cover 1. The other end bar 9a is fixed and can remain in place at the end of the raft The cover 1 may be completed by supplementary belt sections 16 equipped with rings 12 joined in a manner similar to the mobile end bar 9b along the side edge 1b. Tension ratchets 17 make it possible to regulate the tension of the belts 7 and the belt sections 16 attached to the mobile end bar 9b. Due to said structure, the cover 1 can be conveniently tensioned above a raft and, therefore, responds to the safety regulations in force.

Industrial applicability

It is clear from this description that the invention allows to achieve the objectives set, namely, to propose a cover 1 for modular raft, which allows easy replacement, even by a single person, of the removable panel or panels 20 defining the canvas 2 , either to replace them with a new removable panel 20 or a removable panel 20 that has a different structure and different characteristics that respond to other needs. Thus, for example, the regulation of the water temperature is facilitated by the possibility of quickly and easily selecting the structure of the canvas 2 that corresponds best to the situation found. On the other hand, the raft cover 1 according to the invention is respectful of the safety regulations in force, reduces maintenance costs by eliminating the obligation to disassemble the grid relative to the tension and stowage means and reduces the size of the necessary space for the storage of the canvas 2 or its constituent elements, when it comprises several separable layers of flexible materials.

The present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, but extends to any modification and variant evident to a person skilled in the art, while remaining within the scope of the protection defined in the appended claims. In particular, it is possible to use other materials than those described, known for an application in the field of raft covers.

Claims (14)

5 fifteen 25 35 Four. Five 55 65 E13360001 08-12-2014 1. Raft cover (1) such as a pool or the like, comprising tension means that allow said deck (1) to be tensioned in an unfolded position above said raft and stowage means that allow said deck (1) to be stowed in the surrounding area of said raft, said deck comprising a peripheral frame (3) made of flexible material that carries said tension means and said stowage means and that delimits a central opening (30), and a canvas (2) made of flexible material and assembled to said peripheral frame (3) reversibly , characterized in that said cover comprises a fixed panel (4) arranged to close said central opening (30) and assembled to said peripheral frame (3) irreversibly, and that said canvas (2) comprises at least one removable panel (20) arranged to cover said fixed panel (4) and assembled to said peripheral frame (3) by reversible assembly means so as to allow interchangeability of said removable panel (20) forming said canvas (2).

2.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixed panel (4) is chosen from the group comprising an armed network or not, a reinforced or not and openwork fabric or not, a flexible or reinforced material and transparent or translucent.

3.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that said peripheral frame (3) has a substantially parallel parallelepiped outer perimeter, while said central opening (30) delimited by the inner perimeter of said peripheral frame (3) has a parallelepipedic shape.

Four.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that said peripheral frame (3) has a substantially parallel parallelepiped outer perimeter, while said central opening (30) delimited by the inner perimeter of said peripheral frame (3) has any shape.

5.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the four corners of said peripheral frame (3) is obliquely cut so that the area of influence of said cover is limited.

6.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that said peripheral frame (3) comprises two side bands (3a, 3b), of which at least one is arranged to form a protective wrap for said canvas (2) when rolled.

7.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that said canvas (2) comprises an assembly of several removable panels made of flexible materials of different natures or not.

8.

Cover according to claim 7, characterized in that said removable panels forming said canvas (2) are assembled together by reversible assembly means.

9.

Cover according to claim 7, characterized in that each of said removable panels forming said canvas (2) is individually assembled to said peripheral frame (3) by reversible assembly means.

10.

Cover according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flexible material forming the removable panel or panels of said canvas (2) is chosen from the group comprising a transparent or translucent flexible material armed or not, an opaque material or semi-opaque armed or not, an openwork fabric or not, a net.

eleven.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that said flexible material forming said peripheral frame

(3) is selected from the group comprising a transparent or translucent flexible flexible material, an opaque or semi-opaque flexible flexible material, an openwork or not reinforced fabric, an armed network.

12.

Cover according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said reversible assembly means joining the removable panel or panels forming said canvas (2) and said peripheral frame (3) are chosen from the group comprising rings (5) suitable for cooperating with hooks (6), self-engaging bands, zip fasteners, pressure buttons.

13.

Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that said tension means comprise at least two longitudinal tension belts (7) each housed inside a slide (8a, 8b) formed in the longitudinal edges (10a, 10b ) of said peripheral frame (3), each of the ends of said longitudinal tension belts (7) forming at least one loop (11) around an end bar (9a, 9b) attached to a side edge (1a, 1b) of said peripheral frame (3) and arranged to rest on a surrounding area of said raft, said loop (11) being coupled to stowage means of said deck (1) on the surrounding area of said raft.

14.

Cover according to claim 13, characterized in that said tension means further comprise at least one additional longitudinal tension belt (13) and / or at least one transverse support bar (14) extending respectively between the two lateral edges (1a, 1b) and / or the two longitudinal edges (10a,

6 E13360001 08-12-2014 10b) of said peripheral frame (3), each of the ends of said additional longitudinal tension belt (13) forming at least one loop (11) around said end bar (9a, 9b) attached to a side edge ( 1a, 1b) of said peripheral frame (3), said loop (11) being coupled to hooking means on a stowage area planted around said raft, while each of the ends of said transverse support bar (14 ) is connected to a longitudinal edge (10a, 10b) of the peripheral frame (3), said longitudinal edge (10a, 10b) comprising hooking means on a stowage area planted around said raft. 7